Agartala, September 23:** Over 2.34 lakh government employees and pensioners in Tripura will benefit from an enhanced Durga Puja festival grant this year, with the state government raising the annual assistance by Rs 300, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said on Wednesday.
Announcing the decision at a press conference at the Civil Secretariat, Singha Roy said 1,48,501 employees and 85,916 pensioners would receive the revised grant. The government will spend around Rs 47.16 crore on the festival grant, including an additional burden of about Rs 6 crore following the increase.
Group C and Group D employees will now receive Rs 2,400 each, against Rs 2,100 last year. Daily-rated workers (DRWs) will also be entitled to Rs 2,400.
The grant for part-time workers (PTWs) and contractual employees has been raised from Rs 2,310 to Rs 2,610, while pensioners will receive Rs 2,400, compared with Rs 2,100 earlier.
Anganwadi workers, helpers and home guards will get Rs 2,610. The grant for temple purohits has been enhanced from Rs 2,100 to Rs 2,400.
Pump operators and part-time workers under the Rural Development and Panchayat departments will receive Rs 1,350, up from Rs 1,050.
Singha Roy said the festival grant had been increased periodically from Rs 700 in 2017-18.
He also clarified that employees belonging to Christian and other religious communities could avail themselves of the grant during their respective festivals. However, the benefit can be claimed only once a year.
Alongside the festival grant, the government has earmarked Rs 183.87 crore for festival advances for eligible employees and workers.
Group A, Group B, Group C fixed-pay and regular employees, Group D regular employees and DRWs will be eligible for an advance of Rs 20,000. Home guards and Anganwadi workers can receive Rs 5,000, while ASHA workers will be entitled to Rs 2,000.
The Finance Department issued a memorandum regarding the festival advance on September 21, the minister said.
Finance Department Secretary P K Goyal and Additional Secretary Akinchan Sarkar were also present at the press conference.
Singha Roy said the measures were part of the arrangements for Durga Puja, which will be celebrated on October 15.
